I was minding my own business when I get a call from a woman in Oregon with the donor bank. She reminded me that I had given blood for a police officer in Atlanta (thanks to Bill Wallace) and apparently marked the box (or didn’t check the box for NO) on a form that said I was willing to donate other “things”.

I raised my hand and volunteered without giving it much thought. She asked me a few questions and advised me she would be in touch if they came up with a match with my blood type. A few weeks later she emails me with a request to set up a screening interview that would qualify me for additional blood work. During the screening call she told me how “rough” the process of donating bone marrow can be. But, she also told me that there was a fellow in Ohio with Leukemia that needed my help.

I will make this long and drawn out adventure a short story…

I gave up about five tubes of blood and qualified with a good match to donate my bone marrow. Suddenly time is of the essence and I need to submit myself for the procedure. Joanne and the girls were in Great Britain on holiday. So, the timing was good. But, I had to get myself to and from the medical facility for the procedure.

It was awful.

I wish I could say I was able to grit my teeth and feel great about the experience.

But, it was REALLY awful.

So… I received another call late last week. They need me again.

Interestingly, Joanne and the girls are off to Great Britain again in two weeks for another month holiday.

Here is my point for this particular Blog entry…

I have decided to leave this decision up to my “friends”. Many of you know the agony I endured last time. But, we also think I did a good thing. /1This Blog gets a lot of hits each day. So, if just 20 people tell me they think I should do this again, I will square my shoulders and jump back on the gurney.

“Donating Bone Marrow”

I just read your post about your decision of whether or not to give bone marrow (again?). I have acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and will go in for my transplant in the next few days. I’m sure that going through the bone marrow donation is a painful procedure. Whatever you decide, I would like to thank you on behalf of all recipients for even going through the procedure. Most people never even give it a second thought.
My type of leukemia is very rare because my genetic mutation shows that I have already had cancer and chemo which I haven’t. My transplant doctor says that AML patients almost never get this type of mutation. In addition to being rare, it is also very agressive. They haven’t given me a time frame, but my chances of survival for any lengthy amout of time without the transplant are almost nonexistant.
I have gone through several procedures that are very painful, but like you I have gritted my teeth and bared the pain because I had to in order to survive. Although I’m quite sure that the procedure will be painful for you, I implore you to go ahead with it. If you don’t, your match may die. I know that without my doner, I’d be a goner and I will be eternally grateful to her for giving me a chance at life.
May God guide you in all you do and bless you all of your days. 🙂

What’s All This About?

You'll also learn things about, well, things, like people you need to know about, and information about companies you can't find anywhere else.

So, while I harangue the public in my not so gentle way, you will discover that I am fascinated by all things arcane, curious about those whom appear religious, love music, dabble in politics, loathe the media, value education, still think I am an athlete, and might offer a recipe.

All the while, striving mightily, and daily, to remain a prudent and optimistic gentleman - and, authentic.